Introduction
In this article review, I will compare a Vortex Hurricane 7×50 with a Delta Optical Extreme 7×50 ED. Both binoculars have very good optical characteristics and are classic „marine“ size with big Porro prisms. The price of both is very comparable- from less than 390 EUR (Vortex Hurricane) to 340 EUR (Delta Optical Extreme). Fully multi-coated lenses guarantee a decisively superior light transmission through the glass, which increases the fidelity of the color and the contrast. Diopter adjustment is individual on both eyepieces. This makes these binoculars suitable for a novice hunter, for nature and marine use, military, navy, etc. Even on windy days, due to its 7x magnification, they provide a stable image. The magnification of 7x gives enough details when observing and are the best to prevent seasickness. The 50mm lenses gather enough brightness for observation even in low light conditions. 7X50 binoculars also offer 7,14 exit pupil, which is ideal for low-light use.
Delta Optical is a Polish company whose activity started in 2002. Since then, this European company has specialized in the design and production of all kinds of optical devices, focused on the industrial sector (microscopes, precision scopes…) and also on the sports optics sector, especially for hunting and outdoor experience. Delta Optical Extreme 7×50 ED is almost the same model as the iconic Fujinon FMT 7×50. It looks almost like a copy to us.
Vortex Optics has its headquarters based in the United States. They are offering all kinds of riflescopes, spotting scopes and binoculars. Vortex took a more serious step in production in 2004 and is considered one of the fastest growing companies in the sport optics sector.
Both companies are relatively young and are paving their way among major optical devices manufacturers. They both offer a nice variety of excellent products at a reasonable price.
Binoculars mentioned above are appropriate for observations in low-light conditions since their 50 mm lenses gather a large amount of light. They also feature Porro prisms, which have the highest light transmission rate among all prism types. Both have the option of individual focusing, not central, which helps with water resistance. Once the focus is fixed for both eyes, the eyes automatically focus on objects at different distances! The image is, if the focusing system is set correctly, extremely bright and clear. This is also the easiest way to focus in low-light conditions, since it is usually very hard to focus in such conditions with a central focusing system.
Size and Weight
| Vortex Hurricane 7×50 | Delta Optical Extreme 7×50 ED | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 1117 g | 1620 g |
| Width: | 203 mm | 215 mm |
| Length: | 188 mm | 202 mm |
| Bridge Length: | 60 mm | 62 mm |
| Max interpupillary distance: | 74 mm | 76 mm |
The difference in size itself between the models may not be as noticeable as it is in weight; Delta Optical Extreme weighs almost half a kilogram more than Hurricane! I find Vortex design much nicer; Hurricane is coated in a beautiful pine green quality rubber, which is very nice to the touch and is not slippery. On the surface, there are many bars-bumps, meant for a better grip. Details are more or less plastic; the central bridge and the focusing system are made of metal. Same is with Delta’s model- the only difference is the appearance of the rubber, which is brown-grey and the grip bars, that are longer, thicker and located throughout the whole surface.
Both binoculars are massive, robust and quite heavy.
Optical Properties
| Vortex Hurricane 7×50 | Delta Optical Extreme 7×50 ED | |
|---|---|---|
| Prism type: | Porro | Porro |
| Lens Diameter: | 50 mm | 50 mm |
| Magnification: | 7x | 7x |
| Variable Magnification: | No | No |
| Coatings: | Fully multi-coated | Fully multi-coated |
| Close focus: | 9.1 m | 5 m |
| Field of View: | 126 m /1000 m | 131 m / 1000 m |
Vortex Hurricane and Delta Optical Extreme are Porro (BaK-4 ) prism binoculars that have a “dog leg” shape. Porro prisms are believed to be better than the roof ones because they give a better optical performance. Images are brighter because more light is transmitted through them and the perception of depth is better because of the bigger distance between the objective lenses. 50 mm objective gives you enough brightness to perform well in the evening hours/ dusk.
7x magnification is great for smaller boats because the image is stable enough for comfortable viewing. They are also recommended for astronomy applications, military, hunting, navy and law enforcement.
Lenses on both are fully multicoated and provide really good light transmission efficiency. Hurricane also has the XR anti-reflective coating, which reduces inner reflection. Delta Optical Extreme has a special ED glass elements that reduces chromatic aberration and improves the sharpness of the image.
Close focus is much better on the Delta Optical Extreme, with a distance of only 5 m. So we could say this pair of binoculars is also very good for closer observations, for example, birds and other surroundings. Vortex has the same focus of 9.1 m, which is still not bad, given that these types of binoculars are more intended to observe more distant objects. Field of view is slightly bigger and wider with the Delta Optical Extreme. Both models have a greenish reflections when looking at the surface of the lenses. When viewing through them, they both provide accurate life colors.
Focus Properties
| Vortex Hurricane 7×50 | Delta Optical Extreme 7×50 ED | |
|---|---|---|
| Focusing System: | Separated for each eye | Separated for each eye |
| Focusing System Grasp: | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Focusing System Rotation: | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Diopter Regulation: | +/-4 | +/-5 |
| Total Revolution: | 340° | 340° |
The focusing system is individual and once both diopters are set, the adjustment of the binoculars for different distances will not be needed. This option is perfect for the situations when you need to grab your binoculars quickly to observe something in action. Also, this option is excellent for observing in low light conditions, because you can set everything up before and then just enjoy the experience. It is, however, less common, gives a better water resistance and provides a bit worse close focus distances. On the other hand, it is not that suitable for those who wear glasses., since eyepieces usually do not provide multiple settings.
The grasp of the Delta Optical Extreme’s focusing system is slightly better than on the Hurricane since it is soft rubber and not sharp plastic. This is why I have evaluated the Delta Optical Extreme with a 7/10 and Hurricane with a 6/10. Both of these are very difficult to regulate if we wear gloves.
The rotation of the system is, in my opinion, better with Delta, since it is sturdier and feels more stable, so I gave it an 8/10. Hurricane’s system somehow seems to be moving a bit “too easy” and fast, so sudden unwanted changes of the diopter setting can occur. The regulation of diopter is +/-5 on the Delta Optical Extreme and +/-4 on the Hurricane. Numbers from 1-5 are written on the Delta Optical Extreme; on the Hurricane, there are only lines.
Eyepiece Properties
| Vortex Hurricane 7×50 | Delta Optical Extreme 7×50 ED | |
|---|---|---|
| Eyepiece type: | Individual | Individual |
| Mechanism: | Turn and slide | Turn and slide |
| Eye Relief: | 17 mm | 23 mm |
| Exit Pupil: | 7.1 mm | 7.1 mm |
| Firmness: | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Quality: | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Adjustable Eyecups: | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for Eye Glass Wearers: | Yes | Yes |
| External Diameter: | 39 mm | 43 mm |
| Internal Diameter: | 23 mm | 27 mm |
Both model’s eyepieces are individual with a turn and slide mechanism. They have an eye-relief function and a focus setting for both eyes. Eye relief is better and larger on the Delta Optical Extreme. For firmness and quality, I have evaluated both binocular’s eyepieces simply with a 6/10; both are well-made, feel comfortable when pressed to the face/eyes and have foldable eyecups made of rubber. When the eyecups are rolled down, binoculars become more suitable for eyeglass wearers. My evaluation would be better if the edges of the rubber on both models would not be as sharp as they are, which makes them very unpleasant to the touch. When folded, Delta Optical Extreme’s eyepieces feel somehow better and softer. The big weakness is that they do not have more positions. When folded, they are likely to be ruined over time. In addition, it is not advisable for people with glasses.
General Properties
| Vortex Hurricane 7×50 | Delta Optical Extreme 7×50 ED | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing Material: | Plastic/ Rubber/ Metal Details | Plastic/ Rubber/ Metal Details |
| Armoring: | Rubber | Rubber |
| Quality of Armoring: | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Quality of Covers: | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Build in Rangefinder: | No | No |
| Waterproof: | Yes | Yes |
| Submersible: | Yes | Yes |
| Filled With: | Argon | Nitrogen |
| Number of Colors: | 1 (pine green) | 1 (grey-brown) |
| Tripod Adaptable: | Yes | Yes |
| Made in: | China | China |
| Introduced in: | 2011 | 2012 |
| Warranty period: | 10 years | 5 years |
| MRSP Price: | 387.00 EUR | 340.00 EUR |
I preferred the design and the quality of armoring on the Hurricane. Binoculars really have a likable appearance, are much more lightweight and somehow blend in more with nature, than the Delta Optical Extreme. This is why I have evaluated them slightly better (8/10) than the latter (7/10). As I have mentioned before, the weight of this kind of binoculars can sometimes be a problem, so it is recommended to mount them on a tripod for more comfortable observation. Especially in Delta’s case, where the binoculars weigh more than a kilogram and a half! As far as optical properties are concerned, both are very well and give as much brightness to the image as possible. I somehow preferred the Delta Optical Extreme, because the image was even sharper, brighter and clearer than on the Hurricane. Both models are submersible and water and fog-proof even in extreme conditions, due to Nitrogen gas purging and tight seals in Delta Optical Extreme and Argon gas purged construction and O-ring vacuum seal in Hurricane. Both binoculars are very durable and well-made.
Hurricane and Delta Optical extreme’s eyepiece and objective covers are much the same- both are made of rubber and the ones for the objective are attached to the barrels of the binoculars with a wide rubber band. Delta’s covers are a bit softer, however, Hurricane’s have a very useful bridge engraved in, so they can be easily pulled out.
Both binoculars are made in China. Vortex offers 10-year warranty and Delta Optical Extreme 5 years.
Group Test
How we made a test
We made a test with a group of 6 people with very diverse knowledge about sports optics. Some had previous experiences with binoculars and other almost none. We compared central and edge sharpness, glare, real FOV, eye-box and overall impression. Everyone in the test group tested binoculars individually without being influenced by other people. We also covered down any brand signs on binoculars, so no one was influenced by knowing which company manufactured which.
| Vortex Hurricane 7×50 | Delta Optical Extreme 7×50 ED | |
|---|---|---|
| Central sharpness: | 1/6 | 5/6 |
| Edge sharpness: | 0/6 | 6/6 |
| Glare: | 1/6 | 5/6 |
| Real FOV: | 1/6 | 5/6 |
| Eye-box: | 0/6 | 6/6 |
| Overall impression: | 1/6 | 5/6 |
Anyone who tested the binoculars, first pointed out that both binoculars are extremely heavy and slightly impractical, especially Delta Optical Extreme. Soon afterward they were surprised at the optical performance of these Porro binoculars. After setting the focusing system for both eyes, everyone literally enjoyed observation and were impressed by the quality and brightness of the image produced.
The results were much better for Delta in all categories. Its optical properties are so good that most potential customers would even overlook its weight and appearance. Delta lost a vote in the overall impression due to its massive and robust looks; I was told that it absolutely wins in all other aspects, but the appearance is the main reason why they would not decide for a purchase. It won in central sharpness, glare, real FOV and overall impression with 5/6 votes and got all 6/6 in edge sharpness and for the eye-box.
Conclusion
My opinion is that both binoculars are very special and serve its purpose, but I would decide for the one that offers better optical quality, in this case, Delta Optical Extreme. The price of both is comparable- but only for 30 EUR more, Delta Optical Extreme has so much more to offer.
Hurricane comes in a beautiful black shoulder bag with a Vortex logo sewed-in. A neck strap is included.
Delta Optical Extreme comes in a small suitcase- like protective bag, with neck strap, tripod adapter and cleaning cloth included.
The main reason why this kind of binoculars are not too popular is their size and weight, even though the optical performance is outstanding.
Disclaimer
This test wasn’t financed and is unbiased. As a wildlife enthusiast interested in sports optics I made this tests because I would like to see how binoculars perform and if they meet the advertised expectations. With this test, I also hope that it will help people choose the right binoculars for their personal use. I am not in any way connected with the manufacturers of sports optics and I’m not personally in favor of particular brand.
In the end, I would like to thank Optics-trade.eu to lend me these binoculars for this test. I also thank them for letting me use their videos.
